Consolidated Statements of Equity/Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares [Member]	General Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Limited Partners' Common Units [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Affiliates [Member] Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income Available for Common Stockholders [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			103,557,065
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 2,264,296	$ 2,235,419	$ 1,036	$ 28,877	$ 22,078	$ 2,185,852	$ 2,976,197	$ 9,913	$ 9,913	$ 17,576	$ 17,576	$ (769,303)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		(1,128)			(11)	(1,117)
Distributions on Common Units		(50,281)			(503)	(49,778)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(622)			(6)	(616)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(33,377)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	(1,128)		$ 0				(1,128)
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock - Shares			3,000
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	131						131
Dividends on Common Stock	(49,175)											(49,175)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)											(622)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	(23,254)						(23,254)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(308)	(308)								(308)	(308)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			164,190
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(18)			(18)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			(259)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	4,572	4,572	$ 1		46	4,526	4,571
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		(22,210)			(222)	(21,988)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(193)											(193)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(313)				316	316	(316)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	8,386	8,386			84	8,302						8,386
Other comprehensive loss	(2,419)	(2,419)						(2,419)	(2,419)
Total comprehensive income	5,967	5,967
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			103,690,619
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 2,200,268	2,171,409	$ 1,037	28,859	21,463	2,124,868	2,956,517	7,494	7,494	17,584	17,584	(811,223)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	103,756,046		103,756,046
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 2,174,407	2,145,548	$ 1,038	28,859	21,240	2,102,769	2,954,779	(471)	(471)	22,010	22,010	(831,808)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Common Units, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings		7,202			72	7,130
Distributions on Common Units		(50,903)			(509)	(50,394)
Distributions on Preferred Units		(622)			(6)	(616)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings - Shares			(13,266)
Issuances of Common Stock, net of issuance costs and tax withholdings	1,039		$ 0				1,039
Conversions of Common Units to Common Stock	0
Dividends on Common Stock	(49,735)											(49,735)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)											(622)
Adjustment of noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership to fair value	42,301						42,301
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(198)	(198)								(198)	(198)
Issuances of restricted stock - shares			149,304
Issuances of restricted stock	0
Redemptions/repurchases of Preferred Stock	(3)			(3)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures - shares			(6,166)
Share-based compensation expense, net of forfeitures	2,496	2,496	$ 1		25	2,471	2,495
Adjustment of Redeemable Common Units to fair value and contributions/distributions from/to the General Partner		32,346			323	32,023
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(4,960)											(4,960)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	0	0			(3)	(282)				285	285	(285)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	191,340	191,340			1,913	189,427						191,340
Other comprehensive loss	(1,205)	(1,205)						(1,205)	(1,205)
Total comprehensive income	$ 190,135	190,135
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020	103,885,918		103,885,918
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 2,354,860	$ 2,326,004	$ 1,039	$ 28,856	$ 23,055	$ 2,282,528	$ 3,000,614	$ (1,676)	$ (1,676)	$ 22,097	$ 22,097	$ (696,070)